faderift | Player Plot | From Tevinter, With Love

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Player Plot | From Tevinter, With Love

WHO: Alexandrie, Benedict, Byerly, Fifi, Hanzo, Isaac, Loki, Merrill, Romain, Thor
WHAT: A diplomatic dinner and mysterious murder most foul
WHEN: Mid-Harvestmere
WHERE: the Asgard estate in Hightown
NOTES: OOC Poast, CW: rich people being garbage, elf related racism, other updates to come as they apply!

In the wake of the events in Minrathous, there has been a great deal of reshuffling of power and alliances both within the Imperium and between those within it and the surrounding powers. A particularly well-off Laetan merchant by the name of Flavius Aurelius is one such alliance shuffler. He has holdings in the south along the border and a number of cross-country trading caravans and has made overtures of aid in getting Inquisition personnel into (and around) the country in exchange for protection against having his lands occupied and used to do the precise opposite of what he's offering.

This is a rather good deal for the Inquisition, especially since it involves more risk on his part than theirs, and so all attempts are to be made to convince him that he'll be a valued member of the cause. By his countrymen in particular, who may enjoy particular success in doing so for a variety of reasons. Thus, the Tevene contingent of the Inquisition—as well as diplomatic representatives from Ferelden, Orlais, and a wayward Dalish elf—find themselves in the position of doing this due diligence, in the hopes that this will make things go smoothly—better than smoothly if possible—at the meeting established for the next day to discuss terms.

What better way than a small dinner party?

[ ooc: toplevels will be added beneath as they happen! ]

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Things have been tense. Civil, but tense. They've fought before, certainly, but it's never been over something so huge as loss.

Some days Thor feels it's fine to have a distance. Loki has always been... well. Thor has lost track of the times his brother has attacked him or had him attacked. If they're cool toward each other than Loki's mood is less likely to burst into flames and spur him into yet another attack.

On the other hand, Thor misses their former closeness. They don't see eye-to-eye on so many things, but Loki his his brother and he loves him. This hand, these feelings, wind up winning out so on the afternoon of the party he seeks out his brother, searching for the right words to say.

"Is this an acceptable time to speak?" Those probably aren't the best words, but he feels them a decent start.

Loki has watched as they prepare for the party, has drank lightly in boredom and considered reading only to abandon it. He has not had much call to be merry since their return and, thus far, doesn't really see the appeal beyond the necessity of this man's appeasement.

When Thor approaches him, he is holding a glass of white wine in one hand and staring out the windows over the bay. He turns to his brother and, rather than grant him a snarky response, considers how to answer.

"I suppose so."

The reply could be far worse. Thor chooses to accept it and step to his brother's side, looking out to the view as well. It's a pleasant enough one, but he cannot allow it to be a distraction the way he'd like.

"We have been at odds," he says after a few moments of looking out at the ships and bustle. "But you are my brother, and we are in a hostile land. It..."

There's a short beat. He isn't the sole one responsible, but that doesn't really matter. Loki holds a grudge like no other and Thor has always had to sacrifice for peace by going first. It is sometimes exhausting but it is what it is.

"I should not have allowed it to linger for so long. We are each others' best allies, and you are dear to my heart."

Thor has come...not to apologize, but to establish their current state. Loki harbors a touch of resentment at that and, despite himself, his eyes narrow just a fraction for a moment. He takes a sip of his wine and his expression evens as he considers his brother. Ultimately they are in no different state than they were before...save now they are bereft of one parent.

"Such a comprehensive apology, how can I resist?" Loki asks in deadpan but there is, oddly, no bite to it. Not even manufactured bite.

"Rest at ease brother. I don't plan on declaring us enemies tonight."

Has there ever been a time when he has not had to make the first step? It makes Loki's comment rankle, but again, this is always the way of things. It's never mattered that he's the one approaching, shouldering that burden.

"I seek for us to be more than simply not-enemies," he says, pushing back the little annoyance that's surfaced. "This city is weak, the land is weak, there is nothing here that could stand against House Asgard if we were united. And I believe we still share common cause."

Defeating Corypheus has to be foremost in both of their minds, he's certain. After? With the way Lexie has been acting, and Loki as well, Thor fairly well expects them to make a move against him. But if they would put that ahead of Corypheus' defeat he will have sorely overestimated his brother's heart.

Loki chuckles at his brother's enthusiasm, a smile lifting just the corners of his mouth as he considers him.

"We have never been close friends, brother," Loki points out and, in a gesture of geniality, turns to face him rather than the window. His plea is impassioned and, frankly, he is not wrong.

"Do you wish to sit around and chat? Perhaps go camping or riding together? To bond?"

He is mocking him but, in that, there is a thread of genuine offer. It is as close as Loki ever gets to being truly friendly. He will mock Thor if he says yes, but he will still go through with it.

It almost sounds like Loki isn't just teasing, and in Thor's heart, hope springs eternal. All annoyance is gone as he brightens.

"Yes! A ride together is an excellent idea!" Not camping. Camping means sleeping and letting his guard down and sometimes Thor doesn't have the energy to deal with being stabbed yet again. He could still be stabbed if they're out riding. But it would likely be less serious and he'd be on his horse so he'd have plenty of time to ride for aid if it winds up being deep.

"I would enjoy that." He doesn't think Loki will ever change. There's a deep-seated greed and ambition there that is dangerous for everyone around Loki and even Loki himself, but he'd spoken honestly to Lexie when he'd said that he loved his brother.

"Of course you would," Loki agrees sounding mildly exasperated. He rolls his eyes just so and takes a sip of his wine.

"I have time in the morning, but not enough to waste more than a day," he adds after a beat and gestures at Thor in warning. Thor is not wont to go on long rides, not truly, but his brother does all things with relish. If he enjoys himself there is no telling how long it will draw on.

If he enjoys himself.

It is a strange segue and one that draws Loki up short. He pauses, mutely, and considers Thor.

"I wish to speak with you. Privately. Perhaps that will be an opportunity."

He waggles his eyebrows at Loki. Of course he would. If Loki's surprised that Thor would take him up on the offer, than... no, Loki's not surprised and Thor knows it. His brother is the one with the greater grasp of what people are going to do, and how to make them do what you'd like, after all.

But then his expression grows serious and he tilts his head to the side.

"That would be." They can hardly go riding out with a trail of slaves carrying their lunch here, after all. Even if it were servants following them there'd likely be eyes raised in the Free Marches. Orlais, Nevarra, likely not so much.

"Will you give me a hint as to what you wish to discuss, or shall I have to wait through our dinner party?" Which will be a chore, but Thor is good at seeming genial even when he wants everyone out the door.

"A hint?" Loki asks, his tone light and amused. Thor can manage to bait him out, if he tries, and making a game of his conversation will do just that.

"What manner of hint, I wonder?" Loki ponders aloud. If he is too obvious, Thor will guess straightaway. If he lies openly, it is no game at all.

"I must request your aid in finding lodgings for a party."

It is not a lie but not even a fifth of the truth.

It's a game. And a game that doesn't have murderous intentions. Thor's mood lightens intensely as he leans against the wall and gestures off to the side for one of the lurking not-slaves to bring him an ale.

"A party," he says, mulling it over. Loki has always been fond of parties. Both of them have, to be honest, but their parties have been different sorts. Here, Loki's normal sort of party likely wouldn't go over well. The Free Marches liked to pretend at restraint, much like Ferelden.

Lodgings, though. That suggests visitors, or a need for beds, so maybe it's Loki's usual sort of party after all.

"In Kirkwall, or somewhere outside it?" That will tell him how borderline legal or illegal the planned activities are.

"Well outside of the city, to be sure. Somewhere very...private." Loki ponders his next clue when a thought strikes him.

"Else, perhaps, somewhere terribly populated where a crowd might do the work for me. Rivain? A yacht maybe."

He muses a moment and swirls his wine before he recalls their game.

"I shall also require a considerable quantity of wine."

A crowd might do the work for him? Thor's eyes narrow as he ponders that clue, and as the servant brings him his mug and then walks away.

"Do you mean to kill someone under the guise of it being an accident during a celebration?" He doesn't frown on assassination. It's a part of their lives. He simply wants to make certain the target is not him.

"Kill?" Loki asks and his brows lift in tandem. His grin is bright and covers his surprise. It was a fair guess on Thor's part, but wholly wrong.

"Oh you know me, I wouldn't pass up the opportunity," Loki cedes. "But no I had not intended to kill anyone."

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